Briquet-machine.



. PATENTED APR. 4, 1905. Y H. E. MARSH. y BRIQUET MACHINE.l APPLIOATION'.EILED JUNE 2, 1904,.

,5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.l

5 SHBETSwSEEET 3 I No- '786,773-- l PATENTBD APR. 4,11905.`

' MH. E.l MARSH.-

' BRIQUET MAGHINB.

APPLIQATION'PILEDJUNE2,*1904. K

5 SHEETS-sun 4` v nl, i

41w78'f5,v7s.- l .v v PATBNTED APR.4-, '1905.

` Hg E. MARSH. BRIQUET MACIIINEf` APPLIUATION 111mm nmz: 2, 1904. Y

' 6 sums-'SHEET s.

' UNITED STATES Patented April 4, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

,HOWARD E. MARSH, OE LosANoELEs, O ALIEORNIA, AssIeNOR OE ONE- HALE ToWILLIAM P. WAGY, OE Los ANeELEs,` OALIEORNIA.

SPECIFICATION '.'Ollfnng part Of LGETS Patent NO- 786,773, dated. April4,` 1905.

Application filed June 2, 1904'. Serial No. 210,768.

To all whom 7315 may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOWARD E. MARSH. a citi-y This invention relates toa machine forform` ing briquets from various materials in desired forms;and the maIn object of the Invention is to provide a machme of thecharacter described which carries out its various functions bypositively-operating mechanism, no chains or springs being employed,which are liabley v to stretch and impair the usefulness of the malchine.

` Another object is to provide a novel construction for feeding molds insuccession in a definite orbit past the compressing device-vaconstruction which insures a positive and exact synchronism between thecompressing device and the traveling molds.

Another object is to provide a novel and effective compressing devicewhich is adjustable to alter its stroke.

Another object is to provide anovel device for feeding material to themolds and to provide means for removing surplus material- I from themolds after they`have been charged by the feeder.

' Another object is to provide a novel means for positively' retractingthe mold-plungers and for retaining the briquets in the molds after theformation of the briquets andV before their ejection. 1

Another'object is to provide meansforejectl ing the briquets from themolds by compressed air with a construction whichisfextremely `simpleand effective.' whereby an air-cushion is formed between the briquet andejecting device, which prevents abrasion of the briquet by the ejectingdevice andwhich expels Y the briquet when its pressure rises to acertain point.:`

Otheikobjects and advantages will appear i'fromthe -followingdescription.

"The accompanyingdrawings illustrate thel A block.

. standards 2.

invention, and referring thereto Figure lis a side elevation of themachine. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the compressing end of the machine.Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line wss of Fig. 1.Fig. 41 is a transverse vertical'section taken on line fc4 af of4 Fig.6. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe machine. Fig. 6 is a longitudinalverticalsection taken on line mi w of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of thecompressing-platen. Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of thecompressing-platen. Fig. 9 is a plan View, With`a portion broken away,.of the eccentric-rod. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of theeccentric-shaft, eccentric, and eccentric-rod. Fig.v1l is a detail viewin section taken longitudinally7 through a moldtional view showinganother form of construction, in which the mold-blocks are drivenintermittently. Fig. 13 is a section on line m13 :1013 of Fig. l2.

1 designates a base upon which are mounted Each standard 2 is providedwith an elliptical groove 3. A series of moldblocks 4 is provided, (seedetail of Fig. 11,) which travel in an 'elliptical groove and are heldin place by trunnions 5, which project from'each end of each mold-block,the trunnions 5 sliding in the elliptical grooves 3. The bottom face ofeach mold-block is concave, the degree of curvature coinciding with thedegree of curvature of a pair4 of substantially semicircular shelves 6,formed on the standards 2. The elliptical orbit through which themold-blocks travel is completely filled linearly by the blocks. At thecurves of the orbit only the lower edges of the moldblocks contact,lwhile on the tangents of the orbit the fiat side faces of themold-blocks rest close together. Thus While the respective mold-blocksare unconnected they are held to adeinite path of movement by thegrooves 8 and may be moved through their orbit by pushing them along.Each 'moldblock comprises a rectangular block 7, which is provided withone or more cylindrical recesses 8. 1n the present embodiment three Fig.12 is a longitudinal vertical secrecesses are shown, but more or lessmay be employed as desired. Slidably mounted in the recesses areplungers 9, which have stems 10, projecting through the top of themoldblocks. The plungers 9 may have any suitable shape of face to givethe desired form to one side of the briquet. In the present embodimentthe face of the plunger is shown as concave. A rod 11 passes through theupper ends of each plunger-stem and is held from displacement by pins12.

A drum 13 is mounted on a shaft 14 at the compressing end of themachine, the shaft 14 being mounted in bearings 15, formed on thestandard 16, and the shaft is concentric with the curve of the orbit atthe adjacent end of the machine. The diameter of the drum 13 is suchthat the concave faces of the mold-blocks rest upon its face intraveling through `their orbit, and the face of the drum is providedWith concave cavities 17, similar to the concave cavities in the facesof the plungers 9.

In the operation of the machine the drum 13 pass over the face of thedrum the cavities in the drum register with the cavities of the plungersin the mold-blocks, and as each moldblock reaches a definite point inits orbit the plungers are automatically forced toward the drum, therebycompressing the briquet material which had previously been deposited inthe mold-blocks and forming the briquet. In order to push themold-blocks through their orbit, apair of disks 18 is provided, andeach-disk has concave notches 19 with rounded corners cut in itsperiphery. rIhe disks 18 are mounted rigidly on the shaft 14, so thatthel disks and drum 13 revolve together, and as the disks 18 rotate thenotches 19 drop over the trunnions 5 and carry the mold-blocks aroundthe curve of the orbit. The standards 2 are eut away to receive thedisks 18, and the width of the disks is less than the length of thetrunnions 5 of the mold-blocks. Thus as the ends of the trunnions 5project beyond the outer faces of the disks 18 into the grooves, themold-blocks are held from any possible displacement in going around thecurve with the drum. As the mold-blocks leave the drum the trunnions 5engage the full depth of the grooves 3. In moving the mold blocks aroundeach mold-block is pushed along by the one succeeding it. It is obviousthat While the mold-blocks are traversing the tangents of the orbittheir contacting fiat faces will prevent any possible buckling and thatin passing around the curve the mold-blocks are held in position againstbuckling by the shelves 6, While at the other end of the machine thedrum 13 holds the mold-blocks in correct radial position. The ends ofthe curved shelves 6 are continued somewhat below the tangent, so as togive easy entrance for the mold-blocks to the curve.

In order to supply the mold-blocks with the material, a feeder 20 isprovided, which comprises a shell 21, having a hopper 22 and adischarge-spout 23, the mouth of which is arranged to discharge thematerial upon the upturned mold-blocks as they pass. '.lhe feeder 2O isprovided with a shaft 24, which carries vanes 25. The vanes 25 arepreferably formed in two concavo-convex sections, as shown in Figs. 4and 6, to secure a large surface area. As the material is fed throughthe hopper 22 it is carried around by the vanes 25 and dischargedthrough the spout 23 upon the mold-blocks as they travel along, and inorder to remove any surplus material from the mold-blocks above what isrequired for forming the briquets and which should remain in themold-blocks a rotary brush 26 is provided, under which the mold -bloekspass in their travel, the brush 26 sweeping off the excess of material.

In order to force in the plungers and to press the material to form thebriquet, a compressor-platen 27 is provided, which is pivoted on a shaft28. The compressor-platen 27 has a shoe 29, which is sufliciently longto contact with a gang of three plungers as they arrive at the desiredpoint, and the platen 27 is operated by an eccentric 30 and webbedeccentric-rods 31. The eccentric 30 consists of a pair of disks 33,rigidly attached to the shaft 32 concentric therewith and between whichis bolted an eccentric-cylinder 34, the latter having a widenedlongitudinal slot 35, which receives the shaft 32'and which permits thecylinder 34 to be adjusted radially of the shaft, suitable bolts 36being employed for securing the cylinder 34 and disks 33 together, thedisks 33 and cylinder 34 having two or more sets of holes 37 forreceiving the bolts. In operation the disks and cylinder revolvetogether, as they are rigidly connected by the bolts. When it is desiredto adjust the cylinder, the bolts may be removed and the cylinderslipped radially of the disks the desired distance. Then the bolts areinserted in another set of registering holes. In the present embodimentsixteen gangs of three cavities are shown in the face of the drum 13,and the shaft 32 is so geared as to operate the eccentric 30 and swingthe platen 27 forward sixteen times during a single revolution of thedrum, and thereby force in the plungers of a gang when they arrive at apoint substantially on a line with the axis of the drum. The shaft 32 isprovided with a pinion 38, which meshes with an intermediate gear 39,there being a pinion 40 which revolves with the intermediate gear 39 andwhich meshes with the gear41 on the shaft 14. '.lhe

pulley 42 is mounted on the shaft 14 and is connected by a belt 43 witha pulley 44 -on the shaft 24 of the feeder. The shaft of the brush 26 isalso provided with a pulley 45, which may be connected by a belt 46 witha pulley 47, also mounted on the shaft 24. As the moldblocks pass overthe drum 13 the plungers of a gang of molds are forced in, therebycompressing the material intoV briquets, as illustrate-d in Fig. '6. Inorder to retrieve lthe plungers after compression, a pair of curvedshelves 48 are provided on each standard 2,v

upon which the ends of the rods 11 ride as the mold-blocks are pushedalong. The lshelves 48 are curved eccentrically to the shaft V14, sothat the plungers are gradually retracted as' the mold-blocksymove themalong over the sticks to the mold-block and does not move in fartherinto the cavity nor drop out. Thus as the briquets are traveling fromthe drum toward the ejector they are sustained in posi-l tion in themold-block, and the plungers are in their retracted position with ,theintervening air-cushions.

Each standard 2 is provided with a projecting plate 49, having a groove50, the center of which dips below its ends, as shown in Fig. 6', andthe ends of the groove are widened and preferably slightly curved, so asto readily receive the ends of the rods 11. Thus as the mold-blocks aremoved along lthe plungers are gradually depressed as the ends of the rod1/1 travel through the grooves 50, and as the plungers gradually movedown they compress the air within the mold back of the briquet,

and as soon as the rod 11 reaches the lowest' point of the grooves 50the three briquets are popped out by the compressed air, the aircushionspreventing abrasion of the briquets by the plungers, and after beingejected from the mold-block the `briquets drop onto a crossconveyer,which may comprise a belt 51, carried on a pulley 52, suspended bybrackets 53. Further movement oi' the mold-blocks causes the plungers toagain be retracted to their original position, the ends of the rods 11be- 'lever 64, the latter being rocked by a crank and pitman 66,'asshownin Fig. 12.

What I claim is- 1. A series of unconnected mold-blocks,

'each block having a plurality of cavities, plungers in the cavities,means for moving the mold-blocks through a definite orbit, meanscoacting with the plungers for compressing briquet material, and meansfor simultaneously operating the gang of plungers in a mold-block.

2. A series of unconnected mold-blocks,

veach block having a plurality of cavities, plungers in the cavities, amolding-drum, means for moving the mold-blocks successively in adefinite orbit and over the face of the drum, and means forsimultaneously operating the respective plungers of a block.

, 3. A series of mold-blocks, each block having a plurality of cavities,plungers in the cavities, a molding-drum, means for moving themold-blocks successively in a definite or- 'bit and over the face of thedrum, means for pressing the respective plungers of a moldblocksimultaneously toward the drum to compress the briquet, means for thenretracting the plungers, and means for 'subsequently nite orbit and overthe face of the drum, means moving the mold-blocks successivelyin adefif for pressing the respective plungers of a mold-blocksimultaneously toward thedrum, and means for gradually and positivelyretracting the plungers.

5. A series of independent mold-blocks, a plunger in a mold-block,'amolding-drum, meansfor moving the mold-blocks over the face of the drum,means for pressing the plunger of a mold-block toward the drum, andmeans for gradually retracting the plunger to form an air-cushion backof the briquet.

6. A series of mold-blocks, a plunger in a mold-block, amolding-drum,vmeansfor moving themold-blocks over the face of the drum,means for pressing the plunger of a moldblocl; toward the drum, meansfor-gradually retracting the plunger to form an air-cushion back of thebriquet, and means for again pressing the plunger outward and compress.the air, thereby ejecting the briquet.

7.v A series of "mold-blocks, a plunger in a mold-block, a.molding-drum, means for moving the mold-blocks over the face of thedrum, means for pressing the plunger of a moldblock toward the drum,means for gradually retracting the plunger to form an air-cushion backot'V the briquet, means for again pressing the plunger outward andcompress the air, thereby ejecting the briquet, and a suitable conveyerfor receiving the ejected briquets.

8.A A series of mold-blocks, a plunger in a IOO lIO

IZO

mold-block, a molding-drum, means for moving the mold-blocks over theface of the drum, means for pressing the plunger of a moldblock towardthe drum, and means for gradually retracting the plunger to form anaircushion back of the briquet, means for again pressing the plungeroutward to compress the cushion, thereby ejecting the briquet, and meansfor feeding material to the mold-blocks.

9. A series of mold-blocks, a plunger in a mold-block, a molding-drum,means for moving the mold-blocks over the face of the drum, means forpressing the plunger of a moldblock toward the drum, means for graduallyretraeting the plunger to form an air-cushion back of the briquet, meansfor again pressing the plunger outward to compress the cushion, therebyejeeting the briquet, means for feeding material to the mold-blocks, anda suitable conveyer for receiving the ejected briquets.

10. A series of mold-blocks, a plunger in a mold-block, a molding-drum,means for moving the mold-blocks over the face of the drum, means forpressing the plunger of a moldblock toward the drum, and means forgradually and positively retracting the plunger and forming anair-cushion back of the briquet.

11. A series of mold-blocks, a plunger in a mold-block, a vmolding-drum,means for moving the mold-blocks over the face of the drum, means forpressing the plunger of a moldblock toward the drum, and means forgradually retracting the plunger and forming an air-cushion back of thebriquet, means for again pressing the plunger outward and ejecting thebriquet, and means for then retracting the plunger.

12. A series of mold-blocks, a plunger in a mold-block, a molding-drum,means for moving the mold-blocks over the face of the drum, means forpressing the plunger of a moldblock toward the drum, means for graduallyretracting the plunger and forming an aircushion back of the briquet,means for again pressing the plunger outward and ejecting the briquet,and means for then positively retracting the plunger.

13. A series of mold-blocks, a plurality of rigidly connected plungersin each moldblock,a pair of standards, having grooves, projections onthe mold-blocks engaging the grooves, and means for pushing themoldblocks along, and means for operating the plungers.

14. A seriesof mold-blocks, a plurality of rigidly connected plungers ineach moldblock, a pair of standards, each standard having an endlessgroove, trunnions on the moldblocks engaging in the grooves, means forpushing the mold-blocks along, and means for operating the plungers.

15. A series of mold-blocks, a plurality of rigidly connected plungersin each moldblock, a pair of standards, each standard having an endlessgroove, projections on the moldblocks lying in the grooves, a pair ofrotating devices having notches for engaging the projection of themold-blocks for pushing the mold-blocks along, and means for operatingthe plungers.

16. A pair of standards, each standard having a groove, a series ofmold-blocks, projections on the mold-blocks engaging the grooves, ashaft, a molding-drum on the shaft, a pair of disks on the shaft havingnotched peripheries for engaging the projections on the moldbloeks,plungers in the mold blocks, and

-means for pressing the plungers toward the drum.

17. A pair of standards, each standard having an endless groove, a shelfon a standard curved concentrically with the grooves, a scries ofmold-blocks, projections on the moldblocks engaging the grooves, theface of a mold-block having at least two prominent points for ridingupon the curved shelf to prevent the mold-blocks from buckling.

18. A pair of standards, each standard having an endless groove, a pairof shelves on the standards concentric with the curve of the grooves, aseries of mold-blocks, projections on the mold-blocks engaging in thegrooves, the mold-blocks having concave faces which ride over the curvedshelves.

19. Aseries of mold-blocks, means for moving the mold-blocks, through adefinite orbit, a gang of plungers in each mold-block, a pivoted platenfor conseeuti vely pressing in gangs of plungers, means for rocking theplaten, and means for adjusting the length of stroke of the platen.

20. A series of mold-blocks, means for moving the mold-blocks through adelinite orbit, plungers in the mold-blocks, a pivoted platen forpressing in the plungers, means for rocking the platen, and means foradjusting the length of stroke of the platen.

21. A series of mold-blocks, means for moving the mold-blocks through adefinite orbit, a plurality of plungers in each mold-block, a pivotedplaten for bearing againstthe pl un gers in a mold-block, and means forrocking the platen.

22. Aseries of mold-blocks, means for moving the mold-blocks through adefinite orbit, plungers in the mold-blocks, a pivoted platen forpushing the plungers, ashaft, an eccentric on the shaft, and aconnection from the cccentric to the platen.

23. Aseries of mold-blocks, means for moving the mold-blocks through adefinite orbit, plungers in the mold-blocks, a pivoted platen forpushing the plungers, a shaft, an eccentric on the shaft, and aconnection froln the eccentric to the platen, said eccentric comprisinga pair of rigid disks on the shaft, a cylinder having a widened slotwhich receives the shaft, and bolts passing through the disks andcylinder. 24. Aseries of mold-blocks, means for moving the mold-blocksthrough a definite orbit,

plungers, in the mold-blocks, a pivoted platen `for pushing theplungers, a shaft, an eccentric on the shaft, a connection fromthekeccentric to the platen, and means for adjusting the throw of theeccentric.

In testimony WhereofI have signed my name IO to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses, at Los Angeles, in the countyof Los Angeles and State of California, this 25th day of May, 1904. t

- HOWARD E. MARSH.

Witnesses:

GEORGEl T. HACKLEY, JULIA ToWNsEND.

